The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-11-17

and met him with fiat refusal. Stung
by this rejection. Darcy had sailed for
Europe Immediately, and it was not
until after he had left that Violet had
began to feel that perhaps she had
made mistake. She was not girl
to repine, however. and she was young
and ardent and fond Of society. and
she had been very gay and popular
feature therein during these recent
years; but she had never had her heart
so really touched by any one as it had
been by the cousin she had, by her own
act banished: and although she had
not been enough in love to pine for
him, she felt cxhilarated at the thought
Of seeing him again.
When the door opened at last and
he came in. looking very quiet and ele-
CANT in his evening dress, with his
smooth-shaven cheeks and brown mus
tache and somewhat bronzed complex
ion, Violet thought him good deal
changed, and yet she told him she
would have known him anywhere.
81 was scarcely more than lad
when ! went away he said, land
these are the years in which a man
changes most. You are changed. too.
Violet, and for the better-which you
have not had the grace to say to me. /
should have known YOU. Of course; but
with you it is different. There is an
infallible mark of Identification.
''Oh. You still remember the three
little moles, do you?" said Violet, put
ting her white hand up to her cheek
and laying her finger upon three tiny
dark-brown spots near the corner of
her right eye,
They were no larger than freckles.
and = they heightened the effect of
her brilliant complexion, her admirers
were apt to dwell upon them as one of
her chief beauties.
''Of course remember Them" said
Mr.. Darcy; land as they are ineradi-
cable, You could never succeed in hid
ing your identity from me. if you went
to the ends Of the EARTH"
There was rather tender information
in his voice as he said this, and Violet
felt her heart a little stirred by the
sound of these familiar tones. They
were standing apart for moment, and
no one heard her as she said, play
fully:
1T was you who went to the ends Of
the earth-not /.
1T was you who sent me- he said,
''and it is you who have brought me
back"
mot consciously or Voluntarily
said Violet, with touch Of her old
hanteur.
mo; unconsciously and involuntar-
ily,' he answered; ''but surely and un-
mistakably, for all that"
There was no opportunity for further
conversation between them now, and
very soon dinner was announced. and
as they were separated there, it was
late before Mr.. Darcy found himself
again at Miss Dennis side. He had
fingered after all the guests had gone,
and now they were quite alone.
so you would have known me any
where, Violet?" he asked, looking
down at her rather fondly as she stood
beside him.
Il could never fail to know your
eyes" she said. .'They. at least, have
not changed"
Neither has the heart changed"
he said. gently. Every now and
then, when l was far away. used to
fall into the most torturing doubt
about you. / had made up my mind
idiot that was-that / would never
came back to you. and that you could
never have loved me at all. if you could
send me away like that. think now that
perhaps-maybe-well, possibly was
mistaken. Was I?'
Il don't know" said Violet, not pre-
pared for immediate surrender.
There's one feeling alw avs have
about you. When l am in trouble or
worried. or when l think any one has
treated me badly, always think of
you. | suppose it is having no father
or brother that makes me think Of you
when want some one to take care OF
me. Now thing happened not long
ago"
And then she proceeded to give him
an account of the rude and presumptu-
Gus man who had taken advantage of
her helplessness to force himself upon
her acquaintance. to which he listened
patiently, and at the end answered,
somewhat irrelcvantly: "And SO you
are sure you would have known mo
any whereof
''Oh, yes; I'm certain of that"
Even If you had not seen my eyes
through persistently avoiding them
and if l had had big brown beard all
over my face-and it had been in a
most unexpected region, in pouring
rain, in the twilight of winter even
ingp"
What are you talking about?' said
Violet bewildered.
Il am trying to prove that had a
more faithful memory than you. Not
even the rain, or the isolation. or the
VI lAC SOdls vi lIic
dragged feathers. disguised you from
me. confess had some doubts until
you got into the buggy. Then l had
good view of the right side of your
face, and saw the three little moles
which identified you beyond possibility
Of mistake. The fancy seized me then
to play part and see if you still re-
tanned the old naughty manner that
has cost me SO much. and that ! look
for in vain in the person of this meek
maiden beside me-"
Violet did not speak. She was too
astounded, SO he went on:
If you remember, l tried to make
myself known, but you would neither
read my card nor hear my name. You
ran and left me relentlessly, but had
horse could not leave, SO / resolved